Community Possibilities

Building Bridges Between Research and Community Voices with Dr. Dawn X. Henderson

Ann Price Episode 66

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Dr. Dawn X. Henderson makes research accessible for marginalized communities. From her beginnings as a middle school science teacher, to founding We Claim Research, Dawn's journey is filled with inspiring stories and groundbreaking work. Dawn’s commitment to amplifying the voices of racially and ethnically marginalized groups offers a fresh perspective on fostering environments where all narratives are valued.

We share our identities as community psychologists, spotlighting system change and community engagement. Join us as Dawn shares her innovative approach to research collaboration, emphasizing community initiation and leadership. Dawn describes her work with Black mothers who, during the height of COVID-19, reshaped research protocols and presenting their findings at a major conference. Dawn emphasizes humility, openness, and a healing-centered lens. We invite you to embrace the wisdom of communities and the healing potential of curiosity in creating spaces where everyone thrives.

Guest Bio
Dr. Dawn X. Henderson is a Community Psychologist, founder of WeClaim Research (weclaimresearch.com; https://weclaimresearch.com/), and the Director of Participatory Research, Power Building at Village of Wisdom, a nonprofit in Durham, NC. She models making “science and research” accessible to those who have been the most underrepresented and marginalized. As a research scientist, she has used an interdisciplinary lens to position the narratives of racially and ethnically marginalized communities and young people at the center of how science and research happen. Her research has focused on identifying the ecological systems and structures that support and promote positive development for young people and adults. She is the recipient of the American Evaluation Association Graduate Education Diversity Internship, Faculty Select with the Expanding the Bench Initiative sponsored by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Interdisciplinary Research Leaders Fellowship, Division 27, Society for Community Research and Action Leadership Development Fellowship, Division 27’s 2023 Distinguished Contribution to Practice in Community Psychology Award, and 2023 Research-to-Policy Collaboration Scholar Award, Research-to-Policy Collaborative with Pennsylvania State University. As a Community Cultivator and Space Creator, she envisions creating more dream cultivators so that Black and Brown people, their children, and communities thrive.

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Music by Zach Price: Zachpricet@gmail.com